The sickening beheading of a pet lamb from Junee’s Licorice and Chocolate Factory last week has all the hallmarks of a thrill kill, a deranged form of blood lust and mindless cruelty that has no place in civilised society.

The Junee community is rightly asking what could spur a human to act so inhumanely? Is it pure psychopathy or just individuals who hate themselves and the world?

Psychopaths are capable of horrific acts of cruelty because they don't share the same empathy or emotional response to others' suffering as the rest of us. They end up being sadistic thugs, wife bashers and in rare cases, serial killers.

And while police still hunt for those responsible for this vile act, they suspect young men. The question needs to be asked: what could possess a group of young men to do such a thing? 

Wouldn't one of them feel so overcome by the torture of something so helpless and trusting that they would step in? How can our society shape such dark and barbarous minds?

The tragic truth is, young men who can commit such acts aren't going to grow up to be healthy and stable human beings.

And while the penalties for animal cruelty have toughened significantly in recent years, who of us has confidence that the courts will actually impose them.

These perpetrators, if caught, will be lucky to get a few hours community service. Yet if they're not held responsible, we could be creating a bigger problem down the track.

There’s also a black irony in the fact a business like the licorice factory, which has done more to promote Junee than any other, could be targeted in such a way.

We should never forget the forces of good in our communities far outweigh the forces of darkness. Two days after this crime, the Junee community was rallying behind a local dad struck down with cancer, raising about $80,000 to help him pay medical bills. And a big-hearted Adelong farmer has already stepped in and donated a new lamb to the Druces.

All that’s left now is for justice to be visited on the perpetrators of this crime and for the Junee community’s faith in itself to be restored.